Bottling affected man's judgement

Relevant offers

A Picton man who drove drunk after being assaulted by his partner has escaped being disqualified from driving.

In the Blenheim District Court on Monday, machine operator David Ronald French, 44, of Picton, admitted driving with excess blood alcohol of 170mg (legal limit is 80mg).

Defence lawyer John Holdaway said on the evening of May 20, 2012, French and his partner had a serious argument. His partner hit him over the head with a bottle.

French left to avoid any more violence and decided to drive to get away. He had only gone a short distance when he was pulled over by police. As a machine operator, the loss of his licence would leave him unable to work.

Judge Tony Zohrab accepted the blow to the head had affected French's judgement and that the conviction would seriously affect his work. He sentenced French to 60 hours' community work.